Blog

Thoughts on technology, education, leadership, and life.

Rebuilding My Site with Deno and Lume

My personal website was boring. So this weekend, I decided to rebuild it with one rule: I had to use a tech stack I had never touched before.

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CS1 in the Age of AI

Here’s the question that’s been bouncing around my head while I go on my long runs or wait in line for coffee: Should students actually use Cursor from Week One?

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πŸ“

A junior developer stepping into the tech world today will require certain skills to thrive in an environment driven by artificial intelligence. Here are a few pointers to get started.

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Teaching What You Don't Know

Learning while teaching had a profound impact on the classroom I did not expect.

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Earning Money Online in the Year 2000

Influencers aren't the first to earn money online. Believe it or not, it started all the way back at the turn of the century.

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Of Half-Marathons and Goal Setting

Half-marathons are long, tiring, and take months of preparation, so why do I keep doing them? There's something to be learned about goals, purpose, and the drive to keep moving forward.

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What's the Best Way to Learn Cloud Technologies?

Cloud technologies have evolved rapidly over the past few years, so knowing where to start can be a daunting task. Here's a simple breakdown of the best way forward.

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The Coding Spark

There'll be sudden strong feelings of inspiration you simply can't ignore regardless of your profession. Harness them, and let them guide you to that place you wish to be.

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πŸ“

It's not enough to be physically away from work. You also need to know how to detach yourself psychologically.

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My Syllabus' AI Policy

AI has its place in a project, so it's never a question of whether to use it but when to use it.

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πŸ“

Highlighting the initiative and achievements of two former teaching assistants, Olivia Xie and Haoning Wang, in developing a website for Northeastern's Capstone projects.

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AI in Education (The Unique Role of Human Teachers)

Exploring the impact of AI in education and the irreplaceable role of human teachers in fostering personal connections and inspiring students.

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πŸ“

A reflection on how long-forgotten skills can suddenly resurface and the fascinating ways our memory works.

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The Myth of Perfect Software

Addressing the myth of perfect software and focusing on the importance of continuous improvement in software development.

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Fun with Befunge

Exploring the fun and complexity of Befunge, a two-dimensional programming language.

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A Stack of Books for Every Aspiring Developer

Sharing a new stack of books that I recommend to my students for their learning journey in software development.

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How Sound Environments Impact Productivity

Explore how different sound environments affect productivity and how to find your ideal work atmosphere.

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Embracing Antifragility

Discover how Nassim Nicholas Taleb's concept of antifragility can help you transform vulnerabilities into strengths and thrive amidst life's uncertainties.

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Finding Life Balance in a Dynamic World

Explore the concept of life balance and how to harmonize different aspects of life amidst changing priorities.

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Breaking Personal Records

Celebrating a new personal record in the half marathon and the support that made it possible.

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πŸ“

Explore the benefits and limitations of the MBTI in understanding personality types and enhancing personal well-being.

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Choosing Between Technical Depth and Breadth in Software Development

Explore the benefits of technical depth and breadth in software development and find out which path suits you best.

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πŸ“

Discover how CliftonStrengths can help you identify and leverage your personal talents for personal and professional growth.

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What's The Best Way To Learn?

A recent study by Kaitlin Woolley and Ayelet Fishbach sought to find out which conditions best promote learning. Take a look at what they gathered.

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I Got A New Job!

Moving on from the U of A was hard, but I embraced the change, and I'm looking forward to what tomorrow brings.

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Diving Into Node.js For The First Time

You might not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, but you can most certainly teach an old developer a new tech stack.

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Getting Ready For The Tech Interview

It's hard to predict the questions an interviewer is going to ask during a tech interview, so it's almost impossible to prepare for all of them. How do you go about it then? Read on to find out.

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A Quick Start Guide To Large Language Models (LLMs)

Are you tech-savvy and still not sure what AI is or how it works? This book's for you!

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How To Apply For Tech Jobs

Applying for tech jobs as a computer science student can be a daunting process. Here's a simple way to break it down and improve your chances of landing that dream job.

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My Summer Science Project

A little peek at what I do when I'm away from my computer.

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My New Favorite E-Reader

Reading on the go isn't always easy, and Kindle doesn't always get the job done. I found a device that solves both problems. Spoiler - it has Android.

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Finding Productivity In Procrastination

Procrastination is a well-known productivity-killer, but this curse has a blessing you probably never knew about (or even bothered to look for).

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How To Gain IT Experience As A Student

Students may feel like there are little to no growth opportunities available to them, but if they knew where to look, they'd be surprised how many oases there are out there.

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The One Thing Brilliant Students Have In Common

Some things start out big while others start small, but sometimes, the smallest thing can make the biggest change of all. Many a brilliant student often know what that small thing is.

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Financial Planning App

A fintech app that helps users with their financial goals, managing bills, spending, and more.

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Why Students Should Take Advantage Of Office Hours

Office hours are more than just a time for students to discuss areas they're struggling with in the course - they're an opportunity to discuss deeper topics, share ideas, and brainstorm for the future.

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Daycare Management App

A platform for daycare staff to manage their schedules and activities, share updates with parents, and more.

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Understanding Non-Native Speakers

Second-language learners often struggle to put their ideas into words, but there's something you can do to better empathize with them.

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Communakit App

An app designed to help educators and parents assist children of all ages with speech therapy through interactive and engaging activities.

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Esoteric Programming Languages

Some programming languages aren't built for everyday use, but they make you think in ways you never thought were possible.

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Becoming Para REady Audit Tool

A self-evaluation tool dedicated to assess and enhance the readiness and inclusivity of clubs, coaches, or any other individuals in the parasports field.

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What Tech Career Is Best For You?

In the vast and ever-evolving world of IT, sometimes the best path is the one you weren't looking for.

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AR Biosphere

An Augmented Reality(AR) application that lets users explore the breathtaking Alberta ecosystem.

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U School Scheduling System

A program created to improve collaboration between visiting teachers, volunteer presenters, and U School staff during week-long student visits of the University of Alberta campus.

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How To Structure Your Day When There's No Structure

Lots of free time can create the illusion of "I can always do it later" which often leads to procrastination. Reclaim your idle days with this simple guide for more productive down time.

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Storytelling App

A web app that enables the NSTEP program post-attendees to provide feedback in formats such as audio, video, and text.

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Pathfinder (Skillcity Platform)

A web app that connects young people exploring different careers with mentors, companies, and relevant opportunities.

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PyMigBenchWeb

An online queryable version of the PyMigBenchWeb dataset for researchers and software developers worldwide.

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Finding Balance In Your Reading

A balanced book shelf with books teaching hard skills as well those helping us understand other humans is just what the doctor ordered.

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linGrow

A mobile app for multilingual families to help support their children's language development.

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eSignature App

An app that simplifies the process of signing and approving forms for verified students.

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Development In A Box UI

A custom user interface for Dev in a Box - a project that lets developers create any kind of containerized system with ease.

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SIGSCE 2023

I attended the SIGSCE 2023 Technical Symposium in Toronto, Canada.

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Peopleware

The social side of software development, specifically managing project teams.

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Climate Change Calculator

A plug-in that calculates each order's climate change impact. Built in conjunction with Ulivit, a Saskatchewan-based startup.

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Will AI Replace Computer Science Teachers?

With AI tools generating code just as good as traditional software developers, computer science teachers might need to rethink how they teach the next generation of programmers.

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πŸ“

Leaderships styles as told by the Harvard Business Review's David Rooke and William R. Torbert.

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Knead Chat

A messaging platform that connects non-profits with their volunteers.

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How It All Started For Me

I didn't know it back then but coming from a family of teachers had a big impact on me.

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Capstone Dashboard

The Capstone Dashboard lets teaching staff view analytics to monitor and mitigate risks in order to enhance the students’ learning experience in capstone courses.

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Canadian Curriculum-Based Measurement Tool

An Online Remedial Literacy Tutorial Program for teachers working with special needs students.

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Student Resume Generator

An open-source resume generator tailored for students. Create a resume either from scratch or using a JSON file in just a few clicks.

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Voice Emotion Analyzer

A mobile app that helps users learn how to convey emotion through everyday conversations.

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Imagine Cities Learning Guides

A capacity building program where learning guides are created to help users make a change in the community.

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How An App Saved Me

On the verge of slipping into depression, one app gave me a reason to move again.

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Migrante Alberta App

An app used by immigrants to look for helpful organizations.

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Playing Multi-user Dungeon (MUD) in the Terminal

MUD is a text-based role-playing game (RPG) you can play in the terminal. It still exists today!

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Helping Hands

An app that lets users seek out help and/or find volunteering opportunities in the community.

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Death March Group Anti-Pattern

A look into the death march anti-pattern - when you know a project is doomed to fail.

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Project Adult Literacy Society (P.A.L.S)

I'm an honoray member of the Project Adult Literacy Society.

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Virtual Gym Dashboard

A web application that displays a dashboard of game statistics for the Virtual Gym exergame platform.

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FenceSee.com User Experience

The most convenient stop for your commercial or homeowner fencing needs.

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Smart Blinds

Smart Blinds is a project that allows you to control your blinds from anywhere in the world.

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TA Management System

Managing TAs is a difficult task. This project aims to make it easier.

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Calendar BI Enhancements

You fill in your calendar - the app fills in your BI needs.

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Tuckman's Theory on Team Development

A look into how to build a super-star team using Tuckman's theory.

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MODI STRU

A fun fact about Microsoft's 1990s database management system, FoxPro.

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Converse and Cook App

Add recipes, add people, create a grocery list, shop, cook, and then eat together.

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Tradeslink Classifieds Module

An app designed to facilitate a second-hand goods market for tools and equipment of the trades.

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Community League Booking App

An app community leagues can use to manage skating rink bookings.

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Certified Internet User

Back in the day, you needed to pass certain requirements to be an Internet user.

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Immigrant Sexual Health Knowledge Portal

An informational tool providing young immigrants with sexual and reproductive health knowledge.

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Council for Canadians of African and Caribbean Heritage App

An application offering resources related to black history, mental health, and more.

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